Big girl, about town...

Little miss loves to accessorize. She spent all morning walking around like this. She loves to look cute and loves it when you tell her! She happily posed for this picture. However she wouldn't let me take another one with her eyes open. She wanted to see!

Santa.

This picture makes me laugh. Nobody cried, which is good. Just their expressions make me laugh. I like this one even better...

Waiting to see santa, the kids were playing under a table covered in a white table cloth. I peeked under there and found them like this. Sol was patting her head and she was just chillin with her head on his lap. My mommy heart melted. This is the first time I've seen any spontaneous sibling love between them. Whoohoo!

Top 10 of 2011

Put this in our Christmas Card this year....

Cook’s Top 10 of 2011

10. Sol says “Goodbye” to diapers, and “Hello” to Superkids Preschool!

9. Ruby learns to crawl, walk, run, and most recently, to run away!

8. Dave gets a new job at Adobe where he’s traveling a lot but home more when he’s home. Plus frequent flier miles…bonus!

7. Megan now teaches piano to six budding talents and loves it more than ever!

6. The family went on a two week get-a-way to exotic Idaho where we played, swam, skied, fished, farmed, and relaxed.

5. Solomon discovers Spiderman (circa 1968, thanks Netflix) and hones his bad guy fighting skills.

4. Ruby discovers Elmo, candy (especially chocolate), dancing, high fives, and the sand box. She reports that in her 1.5 years, life has never been better!

3. Dave learns new coping skills with the loss of his beloved “Jane” (his mountain bike) and reports that life does exist off the mountain.

2. Megan learns new coping skills as her toddler turns into a boy and her baby turns into a toddler. She reports “chaos is the new cool!”

1. The best part of 2011…. We have each other, thick and thin, good and bad, and for that we are grateful. We’re grateful for the Savior and His eternal gift to us. And most of all we are grateful for YOU!

2011

Today I had one of those 30,000 foot view moments. I was writing "2011" on the back of an ornament that Sol made at preschool today. 2011. I put it on the tree and noticed another ornament that said 2010 and then 2008, Sol's 1st Christmas. I thought "next year I'll write 2012 on another ornament." Woah. I'm not ready for 2011 to be over! Its gone entirely too fast, as cliche as that is to say. Its contained some truly treasured memories. I'm kind of grasping on to 2011 with two hands. I can't tell you how many times I've thought "I want to write about this on my blog." or "I want to remember how great this was." or "I want to write these thoughts out for the world to read and make judgement on."

Alas. There are only 25 days left of golden little 2011 and I can't get anymore of it back. It goes on. All we have on this earth is time. And it keeps on a-tickin'. Its been a while since I've had one of these 30,000 foot view moments. And I'm grateful for it. But I'm going to miss 2011.

Okay, another rant. So for some reason I really like even numbered years. I decided when I was a kid that good things happen to me in even numbered years and odd numbered years were lame. I could go into detail about how I made this decision but I'll spare you. So I hadn't given much thought to 2011. Instead of setting goals for 2011 I set goals thinking, by 2012 I will...

Surprisingly I really like 2011. Its not because 2011 had many incredible memories, its because I started 2011 in a major funk. My health was in a funk, my mental state was in a funk, my emotional state was certainly funky, and I felt a long ways from healthy. After realizing and accepting my current state I made the decision that I wanted to by healthy. In every sense of the world. I figured by summer I'd be doing much better. However, that was not the case. It took me a few months to get healthy physically. Then I got to work on me. The inside. I say "got to" because it I seemed like stuff surfaced that had to be dealt with, and I didn't have a choice on the 'when' aspect. To make a long story short, in the last month things have finally clicked. I'm feeling strong. I feel "healthy." And I know I can get stronger. But I'm happy that I made the choice to be "healthy." I choose it still. I'm sad 2011 is over because it feels like I just showed up. And all that time I was working through stuff and over stuff is gone. And there were good little morsels in all those months of getting "healthy."

So I'm going to do my best to write down the best parts in the next 25 days while 2011 still exists... stay tuned...

Visit to the Fire Station

Ruby and I went with Sol's preschool class to visit the Fire Station. It was pretty much awesome. Everything you'd want in a visit to the Fire Station, minus a slide down the fire pole (apparently they can't have those any more). We practiced stop, drop and roll:

We walked around the fire trucks and engines (there is a difference! thanks fireman Clark).

Ruby loved the hangin with the kids.

Sol got to hold the jaws of life, they were waaay heavy!
We got the "I look and sound scary but don't run away" lecture. Well received for the most part. I think a few kids were still skeptical.

Overall it was pretty awesome! Sol has great teachers, they are so fun, and so loving. Fireman Clark was cool. So glad we got to share this token preschool experience with Sol!

special.

thanks for the visit michelle! it was special.

Baby Girls Party!!!

In no particular order...

You are a star!

I did a post for Ruby's first birthday right? Aw crap.

Okay, so I guess I've really been "on holiday" as of late. While I was driving home from Colorado yesterday I thought " I did a post for Ruby's first birthday right? Aw crap." So lame.

Ruby - some day in the future when you can read and your browsing through mommy's lovely hard bound books full of blog posts (gotta think positive, right?) and you notice the date of this post and calculate that it's a little late, you can be mad but when you have two little tikes of your own you might be less mad. I love you to pieces little turkey.

RUBY!

We've had you one whole year. You've changed our lives in so many ways and while life my be little more hectic and messy with two kids instead of one, the joy, happiness, laughs, giggles, growls (yes she growls), looks, smiles, and loves have made our lives so incredible. We didn't know what we were missing!

Ruby you are so expressive. You have been from when you were just a wee little bean. Your eyes tell your story, there's no hiding how you feel. Most of the time you express excitement, wonder, and a zest for life. The world is your oyster. You understand so well what we're up to. You can wait to be big like brother. You try to put his underwear on and like to brush your teeth now, just like him. You can tell me where it hurts. That's incredible girl, your still so young.

You love your blanket. You love blanket to go everywhere with you and give it random snuggles frequently. You love to chew the fringe and often fall asleep with part of blanket stuffed in your mouth. You like to say "Hi" but can also say "Hey!" and I'm starting to detect "Da" (yeah). Taking after brother, that's how he liked to say it.

You are perfectly plump. So perfectly chunked. You're beautiful, little darling.

Ruby Jane you have given Daddy and me so much joy. We love you to pieces and can't wait to watch you grow this next year.

Love,
Mommy

*tried to upload lots of photos from her birthday party but blogger is giving me fits. grrr.

the girl loves cheetos.

happy boy.

little beauty.

I love it when...

I love it when...

- While driving and trying to blindly reach back and hand a treat or bottle to a fussy little cherub and feel a hot sweet chubby little hand slowly and clumsily grab whatever your handing.

- Little boy yells from the bathroom "Mom! I pooped!! Come look at it! It looks like a banana!!!"

- I lay on the floor and little girl crawls back and forth over me breathing hard and sticking her chubby little bum in my face.

- Little boy says "My dad is my best friend!"

- When little tikes are in bed, asleep, the house is clean enough, and a new Project Runway is waiting for me on the DVR.

To be continued...

Pirated Post: Camping!

Our long time friends(well long time considering "we" have been for 6 years and we've loved the Parkers for 5 years) the Parkers invited us to go camping with them a few weekends ago. Its the perfect set up for a comedy. Parkers would be played by Tom Hanks (1990 version) and Reese Witherspoon (current version) and we would be played by Gerard Butler and Kate Beckensale (for no other reason accept they're hot). Wackyness ensues!

You can read about our camping comedy here on Kristi's blog. Even though there was a lot of crap (at times, literally ;) it's definitely going to be a great memory for us. Thanks guys!!

P.S. Kristi forgot to mention her astounding timing in catching Logan's vomit in a grocery bag approximately 2.6 seconds after he said he didn't feel good. Dave and I still remark on how amazing in was. You've got skills Kris!

Idaho Part 2: Ketchum (who knew)

Who'd have thought a trip to Idaho, our next door state, would have felt so rejuvenating, so relaxing, and just what our family needed. Especially because our trip started with my Grandpa's funeral. But alas, that's what we discovered. I grew up going to Idaho twice a year to visit family. I really enjoyed those trips to the farm. But I'd never spent much time outside of the farm country. After my Grandpa's funeral we went up to Ketchum (Sun Valley) with some friends, sans kids (thanks Michelle and Matthew!) for the weekend. We stayed in the most charming little cabin next to a creek. I spent the whole first day sleeping. I was so worn down emotionally and physically. It felt good to finally let go. Dave had about had it with me and my uptightness. I had gotten so uptight, who knew?! (besides Dave)

(The bunkhouse, where we stayed)

We did some amazing mountain biking at the Sun Valley resort. Epic. We rode through a burned forest full of charred black trees and bright green ground growth. It felt like we were riding through a screen saver. Who knew a 16 mile trip through the sawtooth mountains was just what a burnt out mama needed?! (besides Dave) It reminded me of the beauty of the earth, and that I'm so small.

We did a rafting trip through a section of the Salmon river. It was totally legit! I've been rafting a few times, nothing was quite like this. A member of our group was buddies with our guide so he took us straight through the class 4 rapids. It was awesome! We jumped off a bridge into the freezing water. Who knew this is just what a girl needed to feel so very alive and like super woman?! (besides Dave) Dave sported the GoPro and our friend made this little video from his footage.



Good company, good food, perfect accommodations. Sitting by the creek staring at rushing water for minutes that turn into hours. Biking or walking everywhere. Midnight bike rides to watch fireworks. Sleeping to the lullaby of rushing water. Who knew this is just what this girl needed? Thanks Dave.

Gratitude

Since I posted my 'Help' post I've had an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for all that I have. I received some great comments to that post that really helped me to know that I'm not alone and that I CAN do this. I thought I'd share some of the main points people shared with me:

• Mom guilt - every mom constantly feels like she's falling short in one way or another. Its universal.
• We need time doing our own thing. Not something for the kids, the house, or the hubby. Do something for just you and do it a few times a week. Make it a priority.
• Spend extra one on one time with each kid (if and when you can) when they are feeling extra needy. This may mean ignoring your messy house, the computer, or something else you'd really like to do.
• "This too shall pass"
• Remember - they are little. They are learning. Appreciate their craziness.
• Just do your best, and accept your best.
• Draw help from heaven. Pray like crazy and trust Heavenly father.
  

I'm so grateful for your suggestions. I've tried most of these things over the last 3 weeks and have noticed a positive change in myself and in my kids. Thank you, thank you! I love you all!

Idaho Part I: Grandpa

Contrary to my last post, today I'm feeling so grateful for my life. I love my sweet kids. I love my husband. And we have a pretty darn good life. Thanks for all the good advice. I'm working on it...and I know its going to get better. It already is!

Ready for the family vaca post? I'm going to do it in 3 posts actually to keep this post from taking me 2 hours to write and taking you 27 minutes to read.

PART I: Grandpa's Funeral

My sweet grandpa passed away on June 26. His funeral was held on July 1, in Declo Idaho, where he was born, raised, and lived out his good life. He was such a good man. He was filled with love for people and farming. You can read his obituary here.

I think funerals are a good thing. They provide closure and allow you to celebrate a life of someone you cared about. For me the funeral allowed me to see and connect with family that I hadn't seen in years. It helped me to know more about who my Grandpa was and how many people loved him. He was well loved by everyone he knew.

My Grandma asked my sister and I to sing at the funeral. I sang "Too Young" which was a song that was popular in the 50s. It was sang at their reception as my Grandpa was 19 and my Grandma was 16 when they got married. Despite being nervous and intimidated and quite rusty I was so grateful my Grandma asked me to sing. It gave me a chance to reconnect with something I used to love so much. Really, it was one of my passions. I had forgotten that. And it felt like a gift that I could give both my grandparents.

Here are some pictures:

They drove my Grandpa from the church to the cemetery (which is mostly fields) in the back of his pickup. He spent countless hours driving around in his pickup checking the crops. Several of my cousins rode with him.

Ruby and Auntie 'chelle

Madelyn and Sol getting some post funeral wiggles out.

This is the view from the cemetery to my Grandma's house. Her house is right by the grouping of silo's on the right of the picture. I think it so cool that she can look out her kitchen window and see my Grandpa's resting place. And he can watch over her (and the fields) from the peaceful hilltop.

Mason and cousins checking out a headstone.

Ruby and Auntie 'sissa

Grandpa's casket was remarkably beautiful.

At the dinner kids were running around. Grandpa would have enjoyed that.

To her thrill, Grandma helped Ruby get in on the action.

All of Grandpa's children, grandchildren, and great grand children. Amazing how one good couple make a difference for generations.

My cousin Cody
got a hold of my camera for like 5 minutes and proceeded to take all of these pics. Pretty awesome portraits:




Finally a family pic. Good thing the kids look great! They help the rest of us:


This part of our trip was easily the hardest, and most stressful however I feel it was a gift. I'm grateful for it.

Grandpa, we will miss you so much. But we know you're close and will keep you in our hearts till we see you again.